I understand that Maure Castle is referenced in the Adventure Begings source book by Roger E. Moore. Aside from the environs map at the back could anybody tell were I can find other references to this?

Also other than the three published adventures in Dungeon and the Mysterious Maure article on the PPP site and the Living Greyhawk Gazeteer what would be other good sources for more Maure campaign building info?

One of my favorite things about D&D is the gathering resources and compiling it sorting it and then finally building a campaign from it and imagining how my player's will react or deal with certain situations that would arise. Im curious to know about others DMs and their Maure Castle campaigns.

Well, there's also my primary notes, the correspondence between Erik and myself on the first project (over 100 emails!) and my memory bank... ;)

RJK

To be truthful, Im dying to see a full colour, hard cover, Maure Castle super adventure that takes characters from levels 1-20, that includes a full poster map of the Maure environs and a side view of all the various levels. That would really make my day.

We'd love to do something like that, but unfortunately Maure Castle is owned lock, stock, and barrel by Wizards of the Coast, so its fate is tied up with them. I'm hoping they find a way to work with Rob within the context of their new Digital Initiative. We'd be interested in licensing a book of old and new Maure Castle levels from Wizards, but they don't seem to be in any hurry to work with us right now, so we're basically moving on to other things.

Rob's true mega-dungeon, El Raja Key (upon which Maure Castle is in some ways based) remains Rob's property, however, and readers shouldn't be surprised to see the locale pop up somewhere on the map of Golarion (the castle moves from world to world, leaving behind a copy of itself each time).

At some point I fully expect to work with Rob on publishing that mega-dungeon as a huge project, but that's a very work-intensive, very difficult task to write and to publish, so don't expect anything soon.

Rob and I plan to meet at Gen Con to discuss this and other opportunities, however, so the future may be very bright indeed.

We'd love to do something like that, but unfortunately Maure Castle is owned lock, stock, and barrel by Wizards of the Coast, so its fate is tied up with them. I'm hoping they find a way to work with Rob within the context of their new Digital Initiative. We'd be interested in licensing a book of old and new Maure Castle levels from Wizards, but they don't seem to be in any hurry to work with us right now, so we're basically moving on to other things.

Rob's true mega-dungeon, El Raja Key (upon which Maure Castle is in some ways based) remains Rob's property, however, and readers shouldn't be surprised to see the locale pop up somewhere on the map of Golarion (the castle moves from world to world, leaving behind a copy of itself each time).

At some point I fully expect to work with Rob on publishing that mega-dungeon as a huge project, but that's a very work-intensive, very difficult task to write and to publish, so don't expect anything soon.

Rob and I plan to meet at Gen Con to discuss this and other opportunities, however, so the future may be very bright indeed.

--Erik

thanks for the info, erik! this sounds awesome, and i plan to wait impatiently for it ;-)

Thanks Erik
Its this kind of dedication that has allowed Paizo to achieve the type of success that it currently enjoys, and while the magazines may have left your capable hands you have raised the bar on RPG products to a new lofty level. I cant wait to get my hands on Pathfinder, and hopefully WotC will see the need for not only a full deluxe treatment of Maure Castle in the future, but also the coveted AoW and ST in hard cover as well.

Its this kind of dedication that has allowed Paizo to achieve the type of success that it currently enjoys, and while the magazines may have left your capable hands you have raised the bar on RPG products to a new lofty level. I cant wait to get my hands on Pathfinder, and hopefully WotC will see the need for not only a full deluxe treatment of Maure Castle in the future, but also the coveted AoW and ST in hard cover as well.

I understand that Maure Castle is referenced in the Adventure Begings source book by Roger E. Moore. Aside from the environs map at the back could anybody tell were I can find other references to this?

Also other than the three published adventures in Dungeon and the Mysterious Maure article on the PPP site and the Living Greyhawk Gazeteer what would be other good sources for more Maure campaign building info?

You're in luck, S_SM, since Jason Zavoda (a very dedicated GH fan), compiled (with some help from other fans) an index of Greyhawk references, including Maure Castle:

The index was last updated in 2003, so it doesn't include the various MC levels that Paizo published. (Now that sounds like a good idea for a weekend project....). You can download the full index in zip format, including the abbreviations key, from Harvester's Heroes @ http://www.harvestersheroes.com/CMS2/index.php?name=Downloads&req=getit &lid=6

Savage_ScreenMonkey wrote:

One of my favorite things about D&D is the gathering resources and compiling it sorting it and then finally building a campaign from it and imagining how my player's will react or deal with certain situations that would arise. Im curious to know about others DMs and their Maure Castle campaigns.

I'm working on a MC game that will begin after our current Caverns of Thracia campaign wraps up, and will be happy to share details as they become more firm in my mind (and gaming ideas journal). Right now I'm working on the Maure estates and lands that surround MC, at the distance of 1-3 hexes (on the Darlene GH maps, so 30-90 miles), and will be moving inward to the Castle itself and the dungeon levels.

Erik Said: "At some point I fully expect to work with Rob on publishing that mega-dungeon as a huge project, but that's a very work-intensive, very difficult task to write and to publish, so don't expect anything soon.

Rob and I plan to meet at Gen Con to discuss this and other opportunities, however, so the future may be very bright indeed."

Do any of you have Names and E-Mail addresses of particularly significant people at Wizards of the Coast (who select what is designed & published) that we can begin to write to, to lobby for a complete Maure Book?

That index is mind boggling freakin huge! I cant even begin to understand what would posses a person to take on a task that freakin huge. I can now understand Lovecraft when he writes about how somethings the mind cant comprehend, this is one.Thanks it pretty wicked neat.

I think the idea about writing to WotC is a good one. My only concern is that I dont think Id like to see Maure Castle done with the new encounter format. It seems as if it would be useful, but I find it jarring to read flipping back and forth through the book,and it seems like a page hog.I think it would take two or three books using that format to fit all of Maure Castles levels and encounters in it.

I cant wait to hear more about this new Kuntz/Paizo collaberation in the future!

Do any of you have Names and E-Mail addresses of particularly significant people at Wizards of the Coast (who select what is designed & published) that we can begin to write to, to lobby for a complete Maure Book?

Scott Rouse is online at ENWorld a lot. I don't have his contact info, but I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to get.

We'd love to do something like that, but unfortunately Maure Castle is owned lock, stock, and barrel by Wizards of the Coast, so its fate is tied up with them. I'm hoping they find a way to work with Rob within the context of their new Digital Initiative. We'd be interested in licensing a book of old and new Maure Castle levels from Wizards, but they don't seem to be in any hurry to work with us right now, so we're basically moving on to other things.

Rob's true mega-dungeon, El Raja Key (upon which Maure Castle is in some ways based) remains Rob's property, however, and readers shouldn't be surprised to see the locale pop up somewhere on the map of Golarion (the castle moves from world to world, leaving behind a copy of itself each time).

At some point I fully expect to work with Rob on publishing that mega-dungeon as a huge project, but that's a very work-intensive, very difficult task to write and to publish, so don't expect anything soon.

Rob and I plan to meet at Gen Con to discuss this and other opportunities, however, so the future may be very bright indeed.

Erik, Janes and I had a nearly 3 hour discussion bout various projects slated for the future, including Castle El Raja Key, which I am working on completing (about 30,00 words and 7 out of the 13 maps finished), and the Bottle City, expanded and updated for Paizo to publish. These are long term projects, though the BC will most likely be released sooner and CERK. Nothing is definately set in stone time-wise as yet, and I have been very ill since returning from GENCON and am now just recovering, so I have yet to touch base with Erik on these and other projects. But, all is looking good for bringing some goodies from my pen to Paizo, which is a great thing, what?

Erik, Janes and I had a nearly 3 hour discussion bout various projects slated for the future, including Castle El Raja Key, which I am working on completing (about 30,00 words and 7 out of the 13 maps finished), and the Bottle City, expanded and updated for Paizo to publish. These are long term projects, though the BC will most likely be released sooner and CERK. Nothing is definately set in stone time-wise as yet, and I have been very ill since returning from GENCON and am now just recovering, so I have yet to touch base with Erik on these and other projects. But, all is looking good for bringing some goodies from my pen to Paizo, which is a great thing, what?

RJK

Out of curiosity,how well will CERK work with previously published Maure levels? Will it fit more or less seamlessly with only minor changes like proper names and such? Or will it require more retro fitting on the part of the DM to intergrate the old with the new? I am glad to hear that the future is looking bright for both you,Uncle and Paizo.

Uncle I imagine that you are not bothered in the least as to the anouncement of 4e since you play in your own version of the game and have your work transcribed to the new edition in whatever incarnation that might be.

First things first: CERK as a big hardcover mega-dungeon is a GOAL of a long-term relationship between Rob and Paizo. It will literally take years for this thing to be completed, it is not officially on a schedule, and likely will not appear on a schedule for at least a year or more.

Still, it's going to be awesome.

The books we release with Rob will be compatible with whatever core system Paizo is going with at the time. Right now that system is 3.5. When we've had a chance to look at fourth edition and the OGL associated with it we will make a decision about which is the best way forward for Paizo and its readers.

So the books will be in those systems.

For a project like this, though, I'm hoping it won't be too difficult to get C&C and Osric conversions for them, as I know Rob's audience has a lot of crossovers into those games.

Erik, Janes and I had a nearly 3 hour discussion bout various projects slated for the future, including Castle El Raja Key, which I am working on completing (about 30,00 words and 7 out of the 13 maps finished), and the Bottle City, expanded and updated for Paizo to publish. These are long term projects, though the BC will most likely be released sooner and CERK. Nothing is definately set in stone time-wise as yet, and I have been very ill since returning from GENCON and am now just recovering, so I have yet to touch base with Erik on these and other projects. But, all is looking good for bringing some goodies from my pen to Paizo, which is a great thing, what? RJK

Thank you for the update! I hope you stay healthy and look forward to your projects!

First things first: CERK as a big hardcover mega-dungeon is a GOAL of a long-term relationship between Rob and Paizo. It will literally take years for this thing to be completed, it is not officially on a schedule, and likely will not appear on a schedule for at least a year or more.

Still, it's going to be awesome.

The books we release with Rob will be compatible with whatever core system Paizo is going with at the time. Right now that system is 3.5. When we've had a chance to look at fourth edition and the OGL associated with it we will make a decision about which is the best way forward for Paizo and its readers.

So the books will be in those systems.

For a project like this, though, I'm hoping it won't be too difficult to get C&C and Osric conversions for them, as I know Rob's audience has a lot of crossovers into those games.

That really is good news. I likewise hope that additional Maure Castle will continue to be forthcoming also. I recognize that Paizo can't necessarily make that happen, but with some luck, perhaps WoTC will see reason and join forces with Uncle and create the long awaited classic we've all been hoping for.

I'm (in the young-fashioned sense) "geeked" by being able to bring future product to Paizo's "print initiative". Working with both Erik and James is a delight unequalled in my publishing history.

Note:
Castle El Raja Key's history is transient in relation to MC's/ There is only a scant relation betwixt them that is explained by CERK reappearing and disappearing within and throughout different locales and times.

MC's publishing future is now in WotC's hands. If they want to do the remaining levels sans myself they can; or they can work with me on this if there is indeed interest there. In between, and when time allows, I will post new levels and info on MC. Best I can do,

And no, 4th Addition does not bother me in the least, other than for the fact that it (once again) fractionalizes the already fractionalized fan base for D&D.

As an aside, sometime we just have to leave things which we like behind us and move on. Maure Castle cannot be remade or repackaged, and I can only write so much on it for free as I so have to live, and Paizo, forever in the past a champion of Greyhawk, now has to do the same.

It's interesting in retrospect: Greyhawk and D&D have been changing (or growing, depending on one's perspective) for many, many years. But we still pick up the pieces, find what's best for us as individuals and/or groups, and move on. That's the sweet part of this game: it is constantly changing and challenging us, somewhat like the industry which spawned it does... :)

In an effort to show WotC that I care about the future of Maure Castle, I have posted a new thread on WotC Greyahwk 4e boards asking for more Maure Castle content either as a 4e hardcover or at least as addtional instalments with their Digital Initative. I know that there are other fans of MC out there, I think we need to let WotC hear our collective voices so that the proverbial sqeaky wheel gets the oil!Join me Pazionians for what else do we have left to lose?

In an effort to show WotC that I care about the future of Maure Castle, I have posted a new thread on WotC Greyahwk 4e boards asking for more Maure Castle content either as a 4e hardcover or at least as addtional instalments with their Digital Initative. I know that there are other fans of MC out there, I think we need to let WotC hear our collective voices so that the proverbial sqeaky wheel gets the oil!Join me Pazionians for what else do we have left to lose?

In an effort to show WotC that I care about the future of Maure Castle, I have posted a new thread on WotC Greyahwk 4e boards asking for more Maure Castle content either as a 4e hardcover or at least as addtional instalments with their Digital Initative. I know that there are other fans of MC out there, I think we need to let WotC hear our collective voices so that the proverbial sqeaky wheel gets the oil!Join me Pazionians for what else do we have left to lose?

...and the Bottle City, expanded and updated for Paizo to publish. These are long term projects, though the BC will most likely be released sooner and CERK.

RJK

Very cool, I have used this in campaigns before it would be nice to have something in print.

My GH lore check is failing but the BC exists within Greyhawk City at someone's store, no? I forget the location.

So is this still in the pipeline?

My understanding is that nothing is exactly in the pipeline. Uncle might add the occasional level for fans when he has time to make material in his free time but I'd not hold my breath. If you like this material put pressure on WOTC to hire him to write more material for them.

Actually I was wondering about the Bottle City which although technically a Greyhawk place and originally RJK's I think Uncle was intimating above that it would see the light of day before anything Maure. I am assuming the reasoning being there is nothing inherently Greyhawk about it other than the background, therefore it is free terrain for Paizo to publish.

Actually I was wondering about the Bottle City which although technically a Greyhawk place and originally RJK's I think Uncle was intimating above that it would see the light of day before anything Maure.

Bottle City is now shipping, per Rob's latest post @ http://p085.ezboard.com/fpiedpiperpublishingfrm60.showMessageRange?topicID= 15.topic&start=76&stop=91

First things first: CERK as a big hardcover mega-dungeon is a GOAL of a long-term relationship between Rob and Paizo. It will literally take years for this thing to be completed, it is not officially on a schedule, and likely will not appear on a schedule for at least a year or more.

Still, it's going to be awesome.

The books we release with Rob will be compatible with whatever core system Paizo is going with at the time. Right now that system is 3.5. When we've had a chance to look at fourth edition and the OGL associated with it we will make a decision about which is the best way forward for Paizo and its readers.

So the books will be in those systems.

For a project like this, though, I'm hoping it won't be too difficult to get C&C and Osric conversions for them, as I know Rob's audience has a lot of crossovers into those games.

--Erik

Well, its been awhile. What is the likelihood of Paizo publishing a current edition (3.5) version of this? Or even working with Rob to do a 3.75/3.P version of Maure Castle?

Well, its been awhile. What is the likelihood of Paizo publishing a current edition (3.5) version of this? Or even working with Rob to do a 3.75/3.P version of Maure Castle?

I'd say almost zilch, at the moment IMO -- all that material is most likely the property of WoTC right now, and it's really up to them to decide what to do with it. RJK can only really work with the material not submitted to Paizo for Dungeon (much like a boatload of Gary Gygax D&D material left unpublished in the TSR vaults when he was forced out). I guess that any unsubmitted levels would be fair game for publication (but they'd have to strip out any Greyhawk references...Oerth Journal at least has the luxury of being a non-profit fanzine, and so WoTC probably thinks it's a waste of money to go after them right now)